2017/18 Transfer Speculation

Also known as I Am So Over Wellington Syndrome?

Rossi looked a lot better tonight. Hopefully he ok next week, although Doyle did well.

Would still love to make a play at Gleeson or Marinovic.

Quite happy with Smith at the mo. Very confident.

If Rossi goes in January or at the end of the season I don't think I would mind too much. Same goes with Finkler. Rossi still has the ability to be incredible at A-League level but just hasn't used it, and Finkler is now past it. Most importantly it would free up two visa player contracts, plus frees up what would be a decent chunk of the salary cap (in the case of Rossi) and also a Marquee contract. I know its very early in the season, but I don't think either bring enough to warrant taking up visa contracts or a marquee contract. While Rossi is still a starting CB, For me Finkler doesn't start ahead of either Vidosic or McGlinchey - rendering his Marquee wage and visa spot a waste. I would be much happier if we let both go and signed another quality foreign defensive/central mid to partner Paracki (Our midfield would be insane), and marquee foreign winger

You think we have enough quality CBs if Rossi leaves?

How about that Fenton kid at Wellington??

Has he been playing... or injured still?

He hasn't featured thus far.

It was known when he was signed that he would be injured until at least the new year wasn't it?

I do not think you can seriously discuss Rossi and Finkler in the same breath. If Rossi goes at some point, I would miss his contribution greatly, and wish him all the best. Finkler, in his current form, not so much.   

Durante is about the closest in quality to Rossi but has a few years older body. If Rossi is injured (or, as you say, leaves) then we have a real problem. Mullen is no Rossi. Fox is no Rossi. Doyle is no Rossi.  Sure we have cover at CB, but we do not have another Rossi. 

You say he has the ability but has not used it yet. I am happy with his ability as it is now, and so I do not need much more class from him than what's he doing already at present.  Any other A-League club would have Rossi in a flash (well, maybe not Melbourne City, as they shop elsewhere), but he is more likely to return to Europe than to do 'a Bonevacia' on us. 

In contrast, Finkler came to us as a "two for the price of one" when we got Kosta, simply because Victory were not interested in paying him as much anymore and he got petulant about it and he knew Ernie.  From what I can see, Victory are ecstatic to get Kosta back now, but I do not think they would be begging Finkler to return.  As he does not run much anymore, Finkler would really need to rely on his skill more than speed now, the way that Alessandro delPiero did when he was at Sydney FC. So far I have not seen much of that from The Fink, for example his free kicks were particularly uninspiring (Macca is better than Finkler at them right now).  I am prepared for us to wait till Finkler recovers fully from his injury as he is rusty, but the signs from last season and this season so far have been underwhelming. 

How good would Philippe Mexes be as a theoretical replacement for Dura?

+29 France caps

+ Same player pretty much, except better

+ Free agent since 2016

+ BICYCLE KICKS

+ Played in Italy for 12 years - good rapport with Rossi

- As old as time itself

Yes I know he'd take up an international spot but who cares, Paracki must have his citizenship coming in soon

And I assume you mean Krishna, not Paracki. No, he isn't close to his citizenship. He gets it most likely for 20/21 season (https://twitter.com/SimonHampton9/status/543218958384394242)

I was having a yarn ahaha, wasn’t serious. But a player like Mexes is perfect for us

I would give mexes Finkler's visa spot, but then I'm just having a yarn too.

I’d give Finkler’s visa spot back to Totori if he keeps his sharke play up

Steady on. Finkler has only played 20 odd minutes coming off an injury.
Let's give him some time before we scapegoat him. I feel like the way we are playing could actually utilise Finkler's skill set. But we are well stocked in his position, if he left in January and we signed some one else up I wouldn't be opposed.

Finkler scored 5 last year IIRC. If he gets going could be handy. We've been scoring plenty. Be nice to score more than the opposition though!

with the AWs games coming up, having Finkler back doing a job would be very useful

hopefully he gets some more time this weekend to resettle, get confidence and find some mojo

I would think regardless of whether Finkler has a good season there's no way we keep him on our books for next season. He's old, slow, on a big wage and most importantly takes up a vital visa spot. Don't get me wrong, I liked him last season and i think he was decent for us, but the FFA already hates us as it is and I think that we need to be as ambitious as we can with transfers. If Victory didn't want him last year, we shouldn't be needing him next year

On another note, had a look at players who's contracts expire at the end of this season, wonder whether any of these would be able to be enticed to Wellington? Aussie players of note theres Craig Goodwin (would be so unlikely but ehh), Ben Halloran, Oliver Bozanic, Osama Malik, Matt Spiranovic, David Williams, Connor Pain and Andrew Nabbout. Goodwin and Halloran are playing in the Dutch league and the German second division respectively, so both would be a total coup. Bozanic and Spiranovic would be fantastic pick ups, and i would be happy with signing Malik, Nabbout or Pain as long as they weren't on enormous wages. As for Williams, he's a bit of an unknown for someone who's played five seasons in the A-League. Scored 25 goals (most for Melbourne City), but now plays in the Hungarian League so make of that what you will.

As for Visa spots we potentially have two vacancies come next season and a free Marquee contract, with the likely departure of Finkler and the potential of Rossi leaving too (obviously to be taken with a pinch of salt). Currently without a club are Diego Capel, Joleon Lescott, and Mirko Vucinic. Players with contracts expiring at the end of this season include Michael Dawson, Rolando, Stijn Schaars, Nigel de Jong, Keisuke Honda, Sebastian Larsson, Mikel Rico, Ryan Donk, Aaron Hunt and Lucas Barrios. If we could pull any of these I'd be blown away, but rose tinted glasses are my favourite kind of eyewear. Hell, Kaka will be off contract too, lets sign him

I'd take Nabbout or Pain... we lack genuine wide players.

Unless we start winning some games soon, we won't be taking Nabbout, just Pain. 

Lots of Pain.

No Pain no gain

next week please...I'm planning on being there!

Cahill is available apparently..not that is want him. Huge upgrade on Watson

Tommy would be a huge upgrade...

Huge cash upgrade on Watson as well...

I remember Cahills deal when it was announced was something like a few million in the first year then in the second and third years he would be under the cap.

I wonder how that works if he leaves, does he have to pay money back? And also, is the huge pay cut the reason why he's so unsettled?

There was talk pre-season about Brattan being on the outer at City, if he is one of the guys they are looking at shifting maybe we could upgrade Ridenton with him in the January transfer window.

Yeah, I know the reasons it's just a complicated deal which was three years (?) but the bulk of the money was paid in the first year. If he leaves I wonder how it works out financially.

Cahill would probably get to keep the cash and the FFA would compensate City.

Kip Colvey & Ben McKendry have both been let go by their respective MLS teams. Wouldn't mind them in a Nix jersey - especially McKendry.

I think one of those full backs has to be worth a punt.  Tuiloma has also received a downgraded deal plus he's not at MLS starter level - I think he would be an upgrade on McGLinchey and would be worth a look

Until the FFA have international windows signing NZ players is incredibly unlikely.

If we are not going to sign any NZers I think we put ourselves at a big disadvantage - surely over the next couple of years the AWs playing schedule will be greatly dimished

I say we get Kiwi boys back in the Nix. I know sometimes we get decimated by the international window and the FFA still being absolute gobsharkes, but recently I've felt a bit of a disconnect with the nix due to the lack of Kiwi players in the squad, and I know lots of others feel the same. Its gotten slightly better this year, Ridenton Smith and Mikey are all starters but thats it (Doyle should be but thats another matter). I'd love to bring in Colvey or Tuiloma or McKendry. Hell, I want Boyd back. Then we could get rid of Lowry, maybe Rufer, hopefully Watson